Separator for impurities present in the combustion products of gas turbine plants



Nov. 17, 1953 R. J. WELSH 2,659,448

SEPARATOR FOR IMPURITIES PRESENT IN THE COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF GASTURBINE PLANTS Filed Aug. 2, 1950 INVENTOR: ROBERT J. WELSH ATTORNEYSPatented Nov. 17, I953 SEPARATOR FOR TURBINE PLANT IMPURITIES PRESENT INTHE COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF GAS Robert James Welsh, Rugby, EnglandApplication August 2, 1950, Serial No. 177,295

Claims priority, application Great Britain April 29, 1948 3 Claims. (Cl.183-5) This invention relates to separators for the removal ofimpurities contained in the combustion products of a gas turbine plantwhich at the temperature prevailing in the combustion chamber of suchplant are present in the form of gas, vapour or smoke only, but uponcooling the said combustion products below the dew point of suchimpurities may form sticky liquids or solids.

If such layers are formed on the blading of the gas turbine the stagewhere the temperature falls below said dew point owing to the expansionof the combustion products, the eficiency of the gas turbine may beseriously affected, particularly if solid ashes stick to the liquidlayers of condensed impurities and spoil the aerodynamic profile of saidblading.

My co-pending patent applications Ser. No. 88,1 10, of April 18, 1949,now Patent No. 2,608,055, issued August 26, 1952, and Ser. No. 177,294,of August 2, 1e50, plant comprising a. separator for the removal of theaforesaid impurities from the combustion products in a zone distinctfrom the blading and from the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. Thepresent invention relates to the separator as such.

It is an object of the invention to provide a separator having a chamberwherein liquid condensate impurities and solid ash particles arecollected.

It is another object of the invention to provide a separator having achamber which is readily accessible for cleaning purposes.

()ther objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of an embodiment thereof given merely by way of example andwith reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a sectionalelevation of a separator according to the invention.

The vessel I is provided with a lid H which can be tightly clamped tothe vessel it by means of hinged bolts and wing nuts M and a crossmember 52 and which can be readily removed by unscrewing these nuts.Combustion gases enter the chamber Li through an inlet conduit [3 withchamber wherein impurities are separated by centrifugal force from thegas stream. The combustion gases leave the chamber l5 through outletconduit It.

In order to cool the impurities contained in the combustion gases belowdew point, compressed air of the appropriate pressure is introduced intothe chamber 45 through an inlet conduit H, and a are concerned with agas turbine 2 spray of sea water may be injected if desired through thenozzle Ill.

The position of the pipe connections l3, I1, !8 and i ii and the shapeor orientation or" said chamber may be changed according to localrequirements, but care should be taken that no pipe connectioninterferes with the withdrawal of a renewable inner lining it from thechamber 55. This withdrawal may be effected when the plant is out ofoperation by removing the cover it and withdrawing the lining it throughthe opening of chamber l5. This lining 16 may be of cheap material andconstruction so that it may be dis carded and replaced by a fresh liningin the event of the deposits being or" a nature which makes it difiicultto remove them from its surface.

A suitable form of connection for the inlet con- (iuit l? is shown inthe drawing, where said inlet conduit is extended in the lining It butstops just short of its wall so drawal from the chamber i 5.

While I have described and illustrated what I consider suitableembodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do myselfto the exact construction and dimensions shown, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A separator for the separation of impurities present in thecombustion products of a gas turbine plant as gases, vapours or smokesbut liable to form liquid or solid deposits when cooled, comprising achamber enlarged for allowing the com pass through it at a reducedvelocity, a detachable liner arranged inside the said chamber, a lar eaccess door to the said chamber arranged for the insertion of the saidliner into and its withdrawal from the said chamher, a lateral inlet fort e combustion gases into the said liner, arranged near the upper endthere- 3 lower end, a lateral inlet for gaseous cooling medium to beadmixed to the combustion gases, and an inlet for a liquid coolingmedium to be admixed to the said combustion gases inside the saidchamber.

3. A separator for the separation of impurities present in thecombustion products of a gas turbine plant as gases, vapours or smokesbut liable to form liquid or solid deposits when cooled, comprising achamber enlarged for allowing the combustion gases to pass through it ata reduced velocity, a detachable liner arranged inside the said chamber,a large access door to the said chamber arranged for the insertion ofthe said liner into and its withdrawal from the said chamber, a lateralinlet for the combustion gases into the interior of the said linerarranged near the upper end thereof, an outlet for the combustion gasesfrom the interior of the said liner arranged at the lower end thereof,and a lateral inlet for a gaseous cooling medium to be admixed to thecombustion gases within the said liner, the said ROBERT JAMES WELSH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 516,674 Butterfield Mar. 20, 1894 597,660 Sergeant Jan. 13,1898 725,352 McAleer Apr. 14, 1903 875,175 Hess Dec. 31, 1907 880,747Morby Mar. 8, 1908 1,909,227 Shadle May 16, 1933 2,519,028 Dodge Aug.15, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,911 Great Britain July 7,1915

